Michel Groothuizen, the newly appointed chair of the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has expressed concerns regarding the gambling policies proposed by the new Dutch coalition under Prime Minister Jetten.
The Advertising Paradox
While Groothuizen empathizes with politicians’ “negative emotions” toward the “bling bling” nature of gambling ads, he warns that a full advertising ban may backfire. He noted that licensed operators account for fewer than 2,000 of the 60,000 ads seen monthly by Dutch users on social media.
“A ban on online advertising only affects the legal offer,” Groothuizen argued, suggesting that removing regulated ads would only make it easier for illegal parties to lure players away.
Doubts Over License Caps
The coalition’s plan to explore a cap on the number of online licenses also drew skepticism. Michel Groothuizen questioned the logic of arbitrarily excluding certain providers if they meet strict regulatory standards. Instead of numerical limits, he suggested that if certain gambling products are deemed undesirable by society, the government “must ban them” entirely.
Despite these reservations, the KSA remains committed to the government’s core goals of protecting vulnerable citizens and eradicating illegal operations.
